Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 91.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 91 complaints.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2022 Santa Cruz owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 91 (49%) | too few with a mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 52 (28%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 22 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 18 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 187 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 5 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: 4
Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The roof moldings may detach. A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 66
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT)
Some vehicles may set one of the high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP) DTCs listed
Some vehicles may require replacement of the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) when the vehicle sets one of the high pressure electric oil pump…
Updating the automatic transmission TCU (Transmission Control Unit) software to improve shift quality, judder and hesitation when accelerating
Neighbouring years
2023 Santa Cruz: 79 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Santa Cruz year
2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Santa Cruz years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 91. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 91 complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (91), engine (52), electrical system (22), fuel system (22), speed control (18).
How many recalls does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Trailer hitch (NHTSA 23V-181), Body structure (NHTSA 23V-038), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-746), Engine (NHTSA 22V-197). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.